Steve Borthwick loses key England forward to injury ahead of All Blacks series
Englands-Ollie-Chessum
Steve Borthwick will be without the services of forward Ollie Chessum for the upcoming series against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
The 23-year-old featured in all five of England’s Six Nations matches earlier this year.
Chessum played three of England’s five matches in the Six Nations in the second-row before moving to the back-row for the latter two.
Chessum to miss All Blacks series
Leicester Tigers confirmed that the back-five forward has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023/24 season after having a successful surgery to repair an ongoing injury.
The Premiership club added that he will begin his rehabilitation shortly and is expected to be available for Round One of the 2024/25 Premiership campaign.
His injury is a blow to Tigers as he will miss their final two regular season matches against Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs.
While Dan McKellar’s side is out of the running for a play-off place, they still have a chance of qualifying for the Investec Champions Cup next season if they can claim a seventh-place finish – eighth will do if Gloucester lose the Challenge Cup final.
Steve Borthwick loses key England forward to injury ahead of All Blacks series
The 23-Test cap forward’s injury means that he will miss all three of England’s mid-year Test matches, the first of which is in Japan, with Borthwick’s charges tackling the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo.
England will be the All Blacks’ first challenge under new head coach Scott Robertson with the two facing off at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on July 6.
They then head to Auckland for the second Test match at Eden Park just seven days later.
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England’s June/July international fixtures
Japan v England
Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
New Zealand v England
Date: Saturday, July 6
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (RA), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
New Zealand v England
Date: Saturday, July 13
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy (RA), George Myers (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)